The Utah Jazz are in a desperate battle with the Lakers for the last spot in the playoffs for the west. They've got to win out, and LA has to lose a game to make it happen. Last night, Al Jefferson carried the team by tying his career high of 40 points. I'm liking this image because it's different from what I usually get and, to me, it shows 'motion' in a unique way, and it also shows how Minnesota's big men simply could not stop Big Al. At least that's what I (want to) see. Here he has been closely guarded with his back to the basket and has turned to the baseline, leaving his defender off balance and out of position. Comments welcome.

I personally like the second crop better, I think it shows the physical battle between the two more plainly with the lean angles of both players into one another. I feel like some of that perspective is lost in the tighter crop.

Mike and Paul: Thanks for sharing your thoughts on this. I can see what you are saying, and it's the kind of feedback I'm looking for. My perspective, having 'been there' to see what actually happened, and having shot the entire season and seen a few hundred plays like this, is likely to be skewed.

I agree with Dennis, we get tons of full length shots per game but I love to use my 70-200 at times when they are driving the baseline to get some good face/emotion shots when they are there. Especially the stars like Dirk, Kobe, LeBron, those sell. I try to mix it up and get some tight shoulders/face shots every game. Every time the Celtics are in town I know I'm in for a treat because Dirk and KG go at it, Hard. Dirk doesn't back down and KG is a hot head so I try to get some close up shots like your first one and if they are a little farther out I'll use my 300mm to get them. KG and Dirk make some killer battle faces during this time. Good stuff Russ, glad you are liking shooting NBA I think your stuff has progressed nicely. Good luck in the playoffs, we aren't in it this year.

I personally prefer the first (tighter/cropped) shot even though the cropping makes the proportions feel a bit off. It is a bit different (as you say, "unique") and that makes it more interesting.

It's a lot more intense without additional things for your eye to wander to, so your eyes will just gravitate to what makes it unique (the sweat, the arms and elbows. Also, it can be more intense because you don't know how their lower bodies are positioned, so you may just imagine it being more intense than they actually are. I personally like the first one just because it's very different than most sports photos.

MazeRunner: Thanks for sharing your perspective. I think you've hit on something I was aiming for with that initial crop, which was to show something a bit unique from the perspective of someone sitting on the floor within inches of the court--an up-close-and-personal view of the battle within the battle. I don't know that the first version accomplishes that, but I appreciate your view of it.

The tighter crop is a much more powerful image. Good call! In the vertical version, my eyes are repeated drawn to that inverted V of empty space/crowd and then the lower limbs. They distract from the impact of the photo. You were right to eliminate them.

Great capture Russ. Love the vert, it show Als advantage heading to the hoop.
I like the way the horizontal brings the eyes to the contact on the elbows, his face and the sweat beads pop a tad more.
Great to have options. My experience is only one crop works.
Both of these are great.

Russ, I like the first one. When I just looked at it again, at first glance it looks like there might be an extra arm thrown in there, I know it's not, but first glance, since you lose sight of his right elbow, it looks like another arm is in there.
This takes nothing away from the shot, it's a good one
Bob